Compare towns

Richmond vs Waterbury vs White River Junction

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Richmond has the most homeowners (78.8%).
Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureRichmondWaterburyWhite River Junction
People
Population
4,159
5,405Highest
3,364Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.1%Lowest
VT: +2.8%
+5.3%
VT: +2.8%
+10.8%Highest
VT: +2.8%
Median age
43.7±5.6Highest
about the VT average
43.2±3.7
about the VT average
33.7±3.2Lowest
22% below VT
Richmond and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.5%±5
VT: 17.9%
21.9%±4.9Highest
VT: 17.9%
17.1%±5Lowest
VT: 17.9%
Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±6.3
VT: 21.4%
19.8%±4.4Highest
VT: 21.4%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
VT: 21.4%
Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.1%Highest
VT: 43.8%
54.2%
VT: 43.8%
38.9%Lowest
VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.7
VT: 7%
3.4%±2.8Highest
VT: 7%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
VT: 7%
Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$108,235±$24kHighest
33% above VT
$103,917±$23k
28% above VT
$77,168±$4kLowest
5% below VT
Richmond and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$432,200±$39k
37% above VT
$447,200±$40kHighest
41% above VT
$278,800±$78kLowest
12% below VT
Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,027±$535Lowest
17% below VT
$1,222±$216Highest
about the VT average
White River Junction and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,868Highest
36% above VT
$6,435
28% above VT
$5,651Lowest
12% above VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
28.5%±15.8Lowest
VT: 48.4%
46.8%±21.7Highest
VT: 48.4%
42.9%±17.3
VT: 48.4%
Waterbury and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%Lowest
VT: 10.1%
7.9%
VT: 10.1%
12.1%Highest
VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
78.8%Highest
VT: 73.2%
70.6%
VT: 73.2%
43.9%Lowest
VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1983Highest
7 yrs newer than VT
1963Lowest
13 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% above VT
30 minHighest
28% above VT
15 minLowest
35% below VT
Work from home
22.5%±6.1
VT: 16.9%
28.3%±6.8Highest
VT: 16.9%
15.7%±5.8Lowest
VT: 16.9%
Waterbury and Richmond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #5 of 70 in VT #20 of 70 in VT —
School district Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 Harwood Unified Union School District #60 —
High school in town None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.